pH for Hydroponics 103

[@jamesgaastra1088]

Dude. I have been watching your videos for years. You make me laugh and give out some of the best information out there in every video. I still love you brother!!

[@Just4Growers]

+James Gaastra drinking a beer to you and your heartwarming comment. Nice one brother. Glad you enjoy what I put out. Thanks for watching all these years. Peace!

[@jamesgaastra1088]

yasir zubair Yes?? Can I help you?

[@thehamstaa5148]

@@jamesgaastra1088 you love your brother? Wtf thats gay and illegal. Squid.

[@TheGallivanter]

@@thehamstaa5148 to much time on your hands. Idiot

[@mastercrafterproductreviews]

If you mix R.O. Water with Good clean filtered tap water you can stabilize the PH without adding any acid's or base's. If your RO is 6.5PH and your tap is near 8.0 then add 1 -- 16oz cup of tap to 1 gallon of RO. The PPM's will equal out to be about 30-40 if the filtered tap water is around 400PPM.

[@Just4Growers]

Thanks MC-you're right, the carbonates and bicarbonates in good quality tap water can really help ongoing stability as a pH buffer.

[@azimovwatts6425]

Thank you. I am experimenting with this right now, mixing tap with RO. My nutrients bring pH down a bit so I'm not sure what to do yet. Should I tamper my tap to make it hit target pH when nutes are mixed in? I'm trying out V+B RO/soft powder and its not going as *simple as i had anticipated...

[@BrandonAaskov]

Your videos are incredible. You really do have some of the best information out there as others have said. I know it's been a while, but any chance you have that ph 104 video around? I'm learning a ton from you but there's still much to learn.

[@dominicfregosi4864]

Great video, I don't care how fast you talk, I see the humor in it. Your videos have saved me time and money on a few occasions so thank you.

[@erickquinones1095]

this is Dead Pool when he isnt killing bad guys...lol

[@Just4Growers]

Thanks Dominic. Glad you find the vids useful.

[@JMR2414]

I use a 85% concentrated phosphoric acid, and my EC Rising a lot. For example, if I ad 1 drop on a 1 liter solution rises 1000 EC at least. I just come to see the video about ph, 102, and you recomending diluying the acid a little bit, thats can be fix my issue? Thanks man!

[@dgoufudfjodnfjfnvokjfd566]

hey everest, first of all wow and thankyou, your videos are great, super informative, i just have a question about this one, at 4:05 you say how to calculate ph fluctuation and show a chart, i cannot relate the chart to the math... what im i missing?

[@attilavicen1579]

Hi! Good videos! Why is the calcium participate, when i mixing the nurients? Im using calcium nitrate (stock solution A), and NPK 6|14|30 + epsom salt (stock solution B). In the reservoir 0,4gram/liter calcinit and 0,8gram from the other ferilizer in it. I always mixing the A solution so the calcium nitrate in the end, and adjusting the ph with 60% nitric acid before, until ph 6. But its constatnly riseing due to air bubbled dwc. Not always but sometimes the ph got rise up to 7 and making cloudy water. Than next time i trying to put more acid in it, but im afraid it can go nitrogen excess, and burn the plant. How should i mix it to avoid participate of carbonates? I tried warm water. Stagnant water. Ro water. Really slowly mixing the nutrients. Really slowly mixing the acid. I tried add the 6|14|30+epsom, air bubbled it for one day, it got stable ph 6 after two days, than i mixed slowly the caclium nitrate, and it got participated 10 minutes later...what do i do wrong? Thanks for the help.

[@codyalexcee8093]

I want to do a drip irrigation self watering with soil would I need 6.3 or lower because hydroponics isn't the same as soil and could I use the run off and recycle?

[@ericjensen4974]

Everest! In which video do you mention daisy chaining reservoirs together? I'm heading across the big pond and need a few extra days :)

[@Just4Growers]

+Eric Jensen grow room automation 101: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qorMZ6dnf5mAodk

[@ericjensen4974]

Everest Fernandez thanks! Did you have to look it up or was it by memory?

[@Just4Growers]

+Eric Jensen It kind of came to me in a flash :)

[@BALLAD911]

Useful!! Funny!! Short!! Amazing videos these are.

[@Just4Growers]

धन्यवाद

[@happyday.mjohnson]

I enjoy your informative videos. Thank you. What about alkalinity as it relates to pH (adjustment)?

[@Just4Growers]

Alkalinity isn't really something we want with hydroponics, but it is something we have to look out for. If a plant releases too many OH- ions back into the nutrient solution it can cause yellowing of leaves. I once visited a novice NFT lettuce grower who had let their pH rise to 8.2-this had the effect of locking out nitrates (nitrogen) - his lettuce looked awful! :(

[@NestleWaters88]

I'm sorry to hit you again but I got more questions. :) Thus far I have always mixed the nutes and then adjusted the pH. However, as suggested in your video, I have been doing it wrong and I want to do it right! So, I tried mixing nutes with adjusting pH before mixing in the nutes but I miserably failed. The pH was way too low and I discarded the whole mix. I had good results with nutes first and ph last thus far. What is the expected benefit of adjusting ph first and mixing in nutes last? I'm so curious because it sounds important. I would really appreciate your feedback. Love and regularly recommend your channel! Peace Otto :)

[@Just4Growers]

Hey there Otto-firstly, you can hit me up with as many questions as you like, buddy-no need to apologise. I genuinely appreciate you watching my videos closely and your feedback has already helped me to improve them, sometimes necessitating a re-upload! ;-) However, I'm sorry to learn that you had to discard a freshly made nutrient mix. That sucks. You know, when using liquid hydroponic nutrients they are already dissolved-I should probably caveat that this is more relevant to solid powder nutrients. But, rather than changing common practice, I just wanted to try and explain that it's the extra H+s in solution (as hydronium ions) that help to break up the salts into their component anions and cations and make it soluble. There's a great video at the Khan Academy that explains it pretty well. Take a look: goo.gl/UBxTc0

[@NestleWaters88]

thank you so much! still a lot to learn.

[@baltazarmtzgalla]

can I use aquarium ph testers. uppers or downers. where I live cant get these for hydroponics

[@jasonlitson]

I did, and my plants grow fine.

[@baltazarmtzgalla]

+Jason Litson thanks for the info. happy growing

[@DrValerie800]

Hey Everest, got a question: why would you spend money on pH up and pH down when you can just use baking soda for up and vinegar for down?

[@Just4Growers]

+DrValerie800 Thanks for your question. Vinegar is a weak acid but will work. Better to use industrial acetic acid (probably cheaper too). Baking soda will increase pH too but will also add sodium ions to your nutrient solution. A small amount can be beneficial to some plants but an excess can cause lock-outs of other essential elements. My best advice is to start with pure water in the first place and pH management will be minimal.

[@DrValerie800]

Thanks Everest; you're the best! I've not had to increase pH yet, thanks to living in the SW and having hard water, but after it goes through my Berkley filter, it's at pH 7, so I have to add about 1 - 2 tsp vinegar to a gallon after I add FloraGro. It's not a big problem since I'm just growing a few things right now, with the Kratky method, but I'll keep your advice in mind. I hadn't thought about the sodium blocking other elements.

[@dublplus]

Everest, could you clarify? I should adjust my ph before adding nutrients, but I should be adjusting that ph so that it is still 6(ish) after the nutrients have been mixed in? or as long as I am ph-ing my water to 6(ish) it doesnt matter what the nutrients do to it?

[@Just4Growers]

+matthew allred if you are using liquid concentrates then don't worry, the minerals are already in solution. Just add your base nutrients and adjust the pH if necessary with dilute pH adjuster.

[@Browndown30098390]

Very Informative videos on pH... it has helped me (a hydroponic novice) out. Will aeration affect the pH, nutrients, and plants due to the change in oxygen per ppm???

[@chenyanwen]

1 Can I keep the PH around 6.0 all the time for the one it likes ( u know what I’m takin abt)and is that good, should I ph up or ph down from 6.0 in different grow states? 2 should I only add silicone Nutrient in clear water only or i can use as PH UP? Do u think silicon marks big different for plant with nice weather? Love you man

[@MikeJones-qo7vt]

My ph keep raising to 6.1 after I adjust it to 5.6 😢 a friend said bad bacteria might be growing in resvoir what do u think?

[@Just4Growers]

Are you using an air pump and air stone? Are you recirculating your nutrient solution?

[@MikeJones-qo7vt]

@@Just4Growers yes and its a modular ebb n flo I jus found the problem roots clogged tubing it stop it from draining. Root root 4th week into flower trying to save them cleared the lines and remove the bad roots adding fox farm microbe brew hopefully they bounce back

[@getupgonow3231]

Hi EF ! Great vids! Did I hear correctly ? PH before adding nitrients? What about after? I contacted CYCO and they tell me no,no,no! To do it afterward? So why the comment ! I do like all your videos bit this old man is trying to survive by making my own CBD oil ! Keep up the fantstic vids! Papa out

[@Just4Growers]

+Get Up & Go Now hey papa amigo, I am going to remake this vid and probably take that out. You're fine adding dilute pH adjuster after you've added your nutrients and it makes practical sense to see where you're at before you can adjust. But I made the point to underline that it's chiefly the solubility of the various minerals that we are trying to keep in check by adjusting the pH - if you are using powder nutrients then perhaps this is more relevant. If you are using liquid Cyco products then they've essentially got the minerals into solution already and it's a bit of a moot point to be honest. Summary: chill amigo, just keep an eye on your run off EC, keep the pH around 6 and let those Cyco nutrients do their wonderful work!

[@getupgonow3231]

Everest Fernandez Thank you young man! I appreciate the reply! I have a big problem I hope you can help! My girls are completely dying (onset of 5 th week in bloom)! As I mentioned it is a CBD STRAIN name cherry wine! It is dying up the "vine" I am using one 600 watt LED PER PLANT ( only 2 plants) Leaves looked like phosphorus lockout ( color dark brown to gray going necrotic ) , in 7 gallon fabric pots, ( roots are huge at surface in coco coir ), and I found several fungus gnats, unusual for Colorado but we have had a major monsoon for over a month! I started using Dyna Grow Bloom 3-12-6 plus cyco Grow XL (45% phosphorus) plus Mammoth P ( assists uptake of P ) ! So, I flushed each plant with PH OF 5.8, treated the coco coir with calmagic+ ( 5ml per gallon, PH 6.25) gave them a Bloom mix of 525 Ppm, PH 5.8 per gallon each 7 gallon pot received 1 gallon of water/ fertilizer! I applied 500,000 nematodes per plant on 7-28-17 today is 8-6-17! Still they continue to die and the upper tips leaves are deformed and not fully developing their typical 5 point leaf (3 point leaves clusted together) . I am trying to stay away from pesticides as I ingest oil. The only thing I havent tried is transplanting ( to alleviate root bound and inspect for larvae) and changing to an HPS light ( my LED are 245 watts at the outlet ) . If you can make any suggestions I would appreciate the reply. You can email me at papaobewon@ gmail.com , if not allowed here.

[@erikvanvelzen]

Does it matter whether you use nitric or phosphoric acid?

[@Just4Growers]

Nitric avid will add nitrate (NO3-) ions (and H+ ions) - the other will add phosphate ((PO 4) 3−) and H+. So both acids will contribute to your nutrient solution with usable ions of essential elements for plants. Accordingly growers use nitric in grow and phosphoric in bloom, others use a blended acid product throughout.

[@d3sm054]

love you vids man

[@robbiedang8614]

I feel i understand pH a little better after watching this, but also kinda made my head spin!

[@johnd6416]

Yes I too Everest is really good but I’m a bit of a slow learner I was the guy who was always one of the last few people who took most of the allotted time. during test at school .

[@sandere9563]

Hey Everest, love your informative vids, they really help me out as I’m getting into hydroponics. That being said, I’m am a (organic) chemist telling you, you have been doing it wrong! :P Because, unfortunately, you made a few mistake when calculating the pH of 1 mL of phosphoric acid in 250 gal of water. I did notice somebody pointing this out in the comments, but his explanation isn’t quite there yet. After all the explaining and helping out you did, I feel I kind of owe you, so lets go!: First let’s start by multiplying the 1 mL with the density of 85% H3PO4, which is 1.69 g/mL at room temperature (~20 C), to give us 1.69 grams of the solution. Because the 85% refers to the weight percentage of H3PO4 (the remaining 15% being water), we have to multiply the 1.69 g by 0.85 to obtain the actual amount of H3PO4 in 1 mL 85% solution, which results in 1.44 g of H3PO4. Next, divide the 1.44 g by the molar weight (98), to get 0.0147 mols. Now let’s indeed jump onto the metric train to go from 250 gal to 946 L. Divide the 0.0147 by 946 to get the concentration; 0.0000155 M. Here it becomes a bit more tricky. You are correct that H3PO4 can dissociate three protons, but only the first is truly acidic, so don’t multiply it by 3. This is because after the first proton has dissociated you are left with negative charged H2PO4-. The negative charge prevents the second proton from dissociating easily (this requires the addition of a base). If a second proton dissociates it would leave behind a molecule with 2 negatively charged atoms, which is a lot less favorable. Another thing is that H3PO4 isn’t an incredibly strong acid, therefore you should always consider the pKa(1) value (2.148). In this case however, the solution is quite diluted and it can pretty much be neglected. So, lets keep it simple and take the -Log from the 0.0000155 M concentration, to now end up with a pH of 4.81. Random tip: With these standard solutions its quite easy to look them up in tables, which often give the molarity directly (14.7M), so you could skip a few steps and start with the 0.0147 mol per mL.

[@Just4Growers]

+Sander E To say I'm grateful for your help and Guilliame's too is such an understatement! I've slated some time to fix this video next month but you've just expedited it! Thank you. Chemistry is one of my steepest learning curves but one of the most exciting and challenging. Thanks again for your gracious assistance. Peace! Everest

[@sandere9563]

Your most welcome! I have been enjoying your content and I think your overall quality is superb. Its really informative, high density information, but also presented with flair. So, please do keep it up. If you ever need help with anything chemistry related feel free to send me a massage, I wouldn't mind at all. Have a good one, and keep them growing! Sander

[@Just4Growers]

Sander E Sounds great - thanks. Just4Growers @@@@@@ g Mail Dotcom th@nkyou!!! ;)

[@cheeseface99]

Do you have any links and could you explaine that last step for us slightly less.educated thanks

[@cheeseface99]

Sander E ?

[@pre_ano_na]

can you use PH meter with RO water without any nutrients?

[@Just4Growers]

+Juan Carlos Galang great question Juan. Pure RO water actually "confuses" a pH probe so I put a few carbonates and bicarbonates in there from the tap water for stability.

[@pre_ano_na]

+Everest Fernandez (Just4Growers) what you mean of carbonates

[@jball6680]

If I'm not mistaken you should multiply the .85×98 x ago con

[@thehamstaa5148]

You going to break that pen. Why is it important to take care of the probes on the monitor and not that. Pen or stick you used for stirring. ?

[@danielwilkes21]

Is coco hydro nd what h should it be ?

[@Just4Growers]

Coco coir is a soilless media, suitable for hydroponics. pH should be dead on 6.0. Use a Cal/Mag supplement with a regular hydroponic nutrient (as directed on the bottle) or a coco-specific hydroponic nutrient with elevated levels of calcium.

[@danielwilkes21]

Everest Fernandez thank you, is canna coco a & b okay to not add extra? I am using canna a & b rizotonic and cannazyma

[@lenienschob972]

can y explain te - log van 10 x answer = 4.56 Ohh now i see how stupid oy my - log (0.000027) is ph 4.57. its bein a long time

[@user-yq1yq2hj4h]

Listening on half speed is fucking hilarious!!

[@Just4Growers]

That's actually what I sound like in reality, before my morning dbl espresso. :)

[@borealis370]

I wouldn't say hilarious - it is preferable >.

[@NeonToast]

.75 seems about right :)

[@AM-rp5rr]

and why should you adjust ph first

[@Just4Growers]

+Psycho Horticulture to increase the overall solubility of the nutrients.

[@lonthrall9828]

Love the 'info-compression'!

[@Just4Growers]

+Dr. Boilermaker Thank you doctor.

[@Koldfusion77]

Well holy shit! I actually get to use the mole outside of school! I remember it as something like 10.62 x 10 to the 23rd power or something along those lines.

[@Just4Growers]

+Jay D Yeah man, I've gotta redo those calculations though as they're not quite right!!! Damn chemistry!

[@cicco1838]

wow plant bro! the energy woow

[@flintbarnes9291]

Put the playback speed at .75 if you want to absorb any kind of info from this video. Your welcome

[@hirammartinez952]

Thank you for the good info 👍🏼👍🏼up

[@thatoneguysteve85]

reupload?

[@Just4Growers]

+PC Principal yes, sorry.

[@sam_8a]

Your videos are best 😁

[@mikekisekka4375]

I like all The information from these videos.... But its so fast i have to slow it down 50% the chanel lex world is an exampel of a Perfect comunicator

[@Just4Growers]

Lex is a wonderful ‘tuber for sure and has a great presentation style.

[@mikekisekka4375]

@@Just4Growers ur awsome to

[@tommytong2854]

Man!! Like wow! Thanks!! You have a future as a physics teacher 👨‍🏫 or high energy infomercial guy!! - retirement options for ya

[@mystificateur]

hahah i love so much your videos! So much info! Thanks!

[@daveaufradern6658]

You are really spreading a lot of very valuable information :-) ! I learned a few things and i would consider myself a quit educated planter. But because there are so many good information, i get a bit frustrated with you super fast talking. I know that this should give a comedic tough and i had to laugh (guess it worked ;-) )but over time this get`s (at least for me) a bit annoying because you have to listen over and over again to get the essential information. Just wanted to give some constructive feedback. Keep up the good work !!

[@Just4Growers]

Thanks Dave-I really appreciate the positive words and constructive feedback. It really is invaluable to me as I always strive to improve the quality of my presentations. The fast talking reflects my own "ADD"-like tendencies. You'd think that shorter videos were quicker and easier to make but that's far from the truth! :)

[@daveaufradern6658]

Thanks for the answer :-) ! I`m looking forward to your new videos !! Best wishes !!

[@westhouse4641]

more than I learned in highschool from one video

[@oscarlu]

This guy knows how to titration.

[@peterxyz3541]

High school chem class! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼😂

[@gandalfhyperdrive]

1:30 at 0.5x speed. :)

[@smitgeee]

You can't click on the videos at the end

[@Just4Growers]

+Jeremy Hand thanks I'll sort that out today. Yesterday was a mess. :)

[@MyLittleGardenPlace]

Love this video! 😝

[@pre_ano_na]

need battery bro nice video

[@Just4Growers]

Heheh thanks ordered!

[@pre_ano_na]

BTW can you please make me insects and fungus control please

[@songsbydaniel]

What? 😆

[@supermanironmam161]

Lol well said Everest!!!!

[@wallace.jdreja6881]

Can you speak any faster?

[@mbed0123]

Rock on!!!!

[@ScotianBlooded]

I may have stayed in school if he was my teacher

[@komalthecoolk]

You know too much. Do you have videos for dummies? make a series on that. there's an idea!

[@soulfou74hackney34]

He only knows what he need to so he can sell u shit n plug company who give him free shit he thinks he need . All about the money he knows fuck all unless its a bottle of something with label on it

[@mdefp5168]

I love how you make an intelligent argument and present facts to counter what he says instead of just being all like, 'He's Stoopid because reasons and I'm smarterer' . I really like your videos too./s fuckin' loser

[@soulfou74hackney34]

+michael e keep shopping be good little slave believe everything buy an use bottles its good you you just like chicken....you mug..

[@Just4Growers]

Clearly, you have a keyboard connected to the Internet. Consider what our ancestors would've given for just half an hour with the world's knowledge at their fingertips? Use whatever pH meter (or litmus test kit) you wish. But understand what pH is, how the scale works, and why it's important. If there's any question on soil, hydroponics, biology / photobiology, physics, botany or HVAC (not related to a product with a label on it) that you genuinely want an answer for, why not simply ask it politely?

[@komalthecoolk]

Me? Since when is "you know too much" an insult? This is a very technical and complicated video. Have you heard of the "For Dummies" series books? They are for people who just started and they're very popular. On the basis of what I asked (for dummies), I am asking you to make a video for people who just started and can handle the pH issue in a more simple way. You are using your right to get hurt very easily.

[@colinrgodsey]

so fast! good tho

[@colinrgodsey]

also phosphoric and sulfuric have decreasing acid strengths with proton loss, less 'strong' as they lose a proton. Makes them more useful in the end as buffering-ish agents tho, but more 'bouncy' as they decay.

[@Just4Growers]

Sounds like an awesome advanced topic for another video Colin. Hope you're subbed :) Perhaps we can discuss further at some point. Thanks for taking the time to post your insights.

after the first 30s, I'm like, wtf is this...

After watching the whole thing, I definitely needed a cigarette.

[@JonathanLopez-tw8ef]

Date night

[@guillaumecroes5272]

Hey everest, i'm a huge fan of your content. However I think you made a mistake in your calculations this video. When you are calculating the pH value, you divide the volume (0,85 ml) of H3PO4 by the molecular mass. This gives you something with units of (ml*mol)/g, which doesn't make sense. Instead you should multiply the volume by its density, for H3PO4 that is 1.88 g/ml. After dividing this again by the molecular mass, it gives something around 0,01719 mol. So the amount of H+ is 0,05157 mol, which gives 5,4493e-5 mol/l for your reservoir. The final pH value then becomes 4.26, which doesn't different that much from yours but since it has a logaritmic scale this actually means that there are about twice as much H+ ions in the reservoir!

[@Just4Growers]

Firstly Guillaume, I can't thank you enough for so graciously pointing out my error. I have checked and double-checked and it would appear that my methodology was flawed, exactly as you say. It's funny-I was just looking back at this video the other week and I felt like I was "overreaching" into the faculty of chemistry a little - and looks like I got my fingers burnt! Ha! I will redo the calculations, make an updated version, unlist this version (but keep it live, just with a note to watch the update) and give you FULL CREDIT for highlighting my error. Really, I can't thank you enough amigo. I hope you're subbed or, at least, please keep in touch. Best wishes-peace and happy growing, Everest.

[@guillaumecroes5272]

Everest Fernandez Hey Everest, amazing to hear back from you! I just started with hydroponics since I love to have a little project to keep myself busy and your channel has helped me tremendously. I cannot thank you enough! Don't sweat it, I don't need credit for it, i'm just happy to help (studying physics is apparently starting to pay of :D ). If you ever need something similar doublechecked, i'm more then willing tot help you out. I might not comment that often but you can be sure that i'm watching your content. Keep up the awesome work! Guillaume

[@Just4Growers]

+Guillaume Croes Superb! Will do. Send me an email at Just4Growers (aaaaaat) gmail dot com when you get a chance. Thanks again. :)

[@sandere9563]

Hey Guillaume, unfortunately your explanation isn't completely correct either. I wrote the way of calculating the pH in a separate comment, if your interested. Best regards, Sander.

[@Just4Growers]

Sander E but together we will ALL get to the bottom of this! Lol. Thanks to you both!

[@dyelonjoyce7130]

ph 104 ooooooo

[@mauraknjaz3321]

first?

[@soulfou74hackney34]

I call bullshit....who ph the plants n tree outside...NO ONE.....WHY.? COS ALL PLANTS FIND THERE OWN PH WHEN AND IF NEEDED...this guy full of it

[@Just4Growers]

+Soulfou74 Hackney Hello! Before you call BS, give Monsieur Science a tinkle. He's a decent, pipe smoking gentleman who's always happy to hear from you. While plants (and larger plants called trees) have developed a number of mechanisms and mutualistic relationships to uptake the nutrients they need in spite of less than optimal soil pH (think siderophores to iron) this presentation is about optimizing the pH of a hydroponic nutrient solution--something we enjoy a far greater degree of control over, arguably, that the terroir outside beneath well established perennials. Happy to produce a video about how various plants regulate pH themselves if this is of interest to you and other viewers. Enjoy your day.

[@soulfou74hackney34]

Yeah he smoking crack in that pipe in the Monsanto gmo labs..happy bottling

[@Just4Growers]

+Soulfou74 Hackney So glad that you took my response on board and that I didn't waste my time responding. Ah well-this is for the lurkers.